Railway-crossing signal



March 18., 1924. v

C. E. FRY

i RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL 'Filed oct.

Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

PATENT cernes.

CHARLES n. FRY, or BLooMrIELD,- iowa.

RAILWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Aplieation inea. october 2e, i923. serial No. 670,957.

T'o all whomy t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FRY, ay citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Davis and State of Iowa, have invented. certain new `and use-- ful Improvements in Railway-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification'. j

This` invention relates to certain new and 1 useful improvements iny railway Crossing signals. and has particular reference tothe provision of an improved audible alarm enr bodying` means for1 operating the alarm per se from a point remote from the crossing to warn pedestrians and drivers of approaching vehicles of the simultaneous approach of a train toward the crossing.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a signal or alarm of the above kind, which embraces the desired qualities of sim-y plicity and durability of construction as well as efficient operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crossing signal including an audible alarm member of such a nature and so mounted as to permit of its operation from a point remote from the railway crossing, either mechanically or electrically as found most suitable or desirable.

Otherobjects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing one form of crossing signal constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective viewv of the ramp employed in tie device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper end of the post adjacent the crossing and showing the bell or audible alarm mounted thereon.

In the invention an upright or post 5 is 'rigidly and permanently mounted at one bell' including a sound producinfr shell 9 as a freely swinging clapper 10 fer striking said shell when theshell is swung, the pivot of the bell being preferably horizontal as indicated at 11 and extending transversely with respect to the tracks. Specifically, the

shell 9 has a rigid upwardly extending arm 12 that is pivoted to the bracket 8, and upon the upper end of which a pull is adapted to be exerted for causingV the bell or alarm to sound. r

As shown in Figure 1, additional posts 5 are erected along the track 7 for the desired distance away from the crossing 6 to a point' wherein it is desired to cause the operation of the bell for apprising pedestrians and drivers of vehicles of the approach of a train in sufficient time to avoid accidents.

A flexible member or cable 13 is attached at the post farthest from the` crossing for facilitating a pull upon the cable 13 for cauing operation of the bell.

In Figure l, a longitudinal -upwardly curved ramp 15 is disposed beside one of the track rails in position to be engaged by the flange 16 of the wheels 17 of an approaching train for causing depression thereof, the ramp 15 being rigid at one end with a transverse rock shaft 18 that is suitably journalled beneath the adjacent rail and that has an inclined upwardly projecting arm 19 rigid with the outer end thereof, the free upper edge of which is attached to the cable 13. Also attached to the upper end of the arm 19 is another flexible member or cable 20 that passes over a pulley 21. vsuitably journalled on the lower portion of the adjacent post 5 and that has a weighty 22 or its equivalent, adjacent to the lower end thereof. In the operation of this form of the invention, the weight. will act through the cable 20, arm 19, and shaft 18 to hold the ramp 15 elevated so that the ange 16 of the successive wheels of a train will engage said ramp intermittently and depress the same for causing intermittent pulls to be exerted upon the cable 13 and ringing the bell embodying the shell 9 several successive times prior to the approach of the train to the crossing 6. It is of course to be understood, that after each depression of the ramp 15, the latter is automatically again raisedfor engagementby the next succeeding wheel through the medium of the Weight 22 and its engagement with the ramp.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as Well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lVhat I claim as new is:

A railway crossing signal including a bell mounted Jfor swinging movement on a post adjacent a. crossing, and operating means for swinging the bell located at a point remote from said crossing and having a support adjacent the track, a rock shaft rotatably mounted in said support and extending under one of the rails of said track, a curved ramp formed on the end of the rock shaft adjacent the rail, a laterally extending arm on the other end of said shaft guide pulleys mounted on said support, a fiexible connection between said arm and said bell and extending over said guide pulleys whereby the bell may be actuated in the rocking movement of said arm through the engagement of the wheels ofthe rail vehicle with said ramp, another guide pulley mounted adjacent the normal plane of the end of said laterally extending arm on the rock shaft, a flexible cable connected with the end oi said arm and extending over said last mentioned pulley, a weight mounted on the end of said last mentioned cable for normally rotating said shaft in one direction to position the ramp for engagement with the wheels of the vehicle on said rails, and means for limiting the movement of the arms under the action of the weight.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES E. FRY. 

